Comments on: Thierry Girard’s East End

By: Cherub

Cherub — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 13:56:42 +0000

I can’t help but feel sorry for Alan B and his family who look to be living in very poor circumstances. Perhaps doing home work pressing ties was all that was available to him as a source of income at that point. I hope they went on to better housing, more financial security and a better life.
My dad lost his job in around 1970 when the mine he worked in closed down due to being waterlogged and dangerous. It was very difficult financially as there was no help with things like rent like there is now. He could claim unemployment for himself and something for me, but my mum had to get a part time job working split shifts cleaning at the local high school.

By: Kitty Shepherd

Kitty Shepherd — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 07:12:05 +0000

Wonderful photographs, thank you for sharing them.

By: achim

achim — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 10:23:40 +0000

These are really historic pictures. The East End, two years before I first came there. You can’t ignore the poverty and decay. But like Phoenix from the ashes, a cultural hotspot has emerged nowadays — not least thanks to G.A.’s blog!

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: Christine Swan

Christine Swan — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 07:30:25 +0000

Funnily enough, I was in Hackney and Dalston only yesterday taking photographs and remarking on the gentrification of parts of the area. Nobody would dispute that better housing is a good thing but there is still poverty if we look for it or stumble across it. There are still damp, mouldy flats and beautiful Victorian mansions. The East End is a place of stark contrast. I saw doughnuts for sale at £6.50 each on London Fields market but I also bought a homeless person lunch.
Another great set of evocative photographs.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 07:12:19 +0000

Thanks for sharing these exceptional photos. What has always struck me about certain photos of English streets is that there are no trees, no grass, no flowers. They looks so stark, and sometimes even bleak. On a separate note, I’d love to have a print of the main (viz. the first) photo; it’s brilliant.

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 05:13:35 +0000

Thank you.
I like the Hackney Empire photo the best as it conjures up many happy memories of theatrical stories as told to me by my dear Auntie Rae who lived with us.

My favourite one being on a warm night in the Summer a magician appeared on stage, snd presented my Auntie Rae, a lifelong resident of Stepney, with a beautiful drink with all different colours and flavours.

“It was the best drink I ever had.”